Local teachers learn lessons from student mischief

(WEAU) - Learning to read and write is something many of us can remember doing as kids. But do you remember students that misbehaved in the classroom?

Whether it’s a child being aggressive or calling someone a bad name at school, there are different levels of discipline that follow.

For Margaret Perri, teaching kid’s art the past 13 years has taught her valuable lessons about behavior.

"I had a student lunge across the table at another student this was a 3rd grader, so it certainly warranted quick action on my part," said Margaret Perri, Art Teacher Parkview Elementary.

She says nothing really surprises her anymore.

"Some days it will lend itself as being whoa, you just did what?" said Perri.

She says having a structured environment is key.

"There's a lot student that have that belief that when I come into the art room I can do whatever I want," said Perri.

Mrs. Perri says it’s important to not only communicate with students properly. Its vital to talk with teachers whether its inside or outside the classroom to get a better understanding of students in a school environment.

But for Principal Samantha Hoyt managing a classroom is a little different because she manages 500 kids at once.

"You can kind of predict some of their behaviors and look at why is that their doing the things that they're doing. Why is it they're acting out?" said Samantha Hoyt, Principal of Parkview Elementary.

Both agree that you can learn from students and that teachers gain knowledge with each passing year. It’s all about being fair and consistent.

"As adults, I don't think we think about what it was like for us at that age, so you definitely have to step back at look at it from a different perspective," said Hoyt.

Perri says giving kids rewards for good behavior helps like her game of 1, 2, 3.

"They will have a friendly competition, whoever gets the most in points wins the party at the end of year,” said Perri.

"I try to make it a learning experience for them that they're learning from what they've done," said Hoyt.

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